SEATING SYSTEM AND PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION UNIT FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20100019086A1
• Filed: 10/05/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited (Liberty Global Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Virginia Atlanta Airways Limited
• Inventors: Mills, Simon Frederick, Doy, Gary, Miles, Luke, Ferry, David, Starkey, David Edward, Lawler, Andrew Leslie, Wells, Adam Bernard
• Application Number:
  US12/573,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20100019086A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/118.500
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/20 the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/04, B60N2/22 , B60N2/3002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/206 to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3031 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3065 in a longitudinal-vertical plane
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/309 rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/34 into a bed
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06 Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0601 Arrangement of seats for non-standard seating layouts, e.g. seats staggered horizontally or vertically, arranged in an angled or fishbone layout, or facing in other directions than the direction of flight
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0604 including a bed, e.g. cocoon type passenger seat modules
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0606 with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like class dividers B64D11/0023
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0626 with individual temperature or ventilation control
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0641 Seats convertible into beds
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0646 Seats characterised by special features of stationary arms, foot or head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0696 Means for fastening seats to floors, e.g. to floor rails

Abstract

A seat module for a passenger vehicle is disclosed. The seat module includes a seat portion, a foot-rest portion, and a unitary supporting structure for supporting the seat portion and the foot-rest portion off the floor of the vehicle. Two spaced fixings are provided for fixing the supporting structure to one of a pair of seat tracks in a floor of the vehicle at two spaced points. A third fixing is provided for fixing the supporting structure to the other track, to thereby provide a 3-point fixing between the seat module and the seat tracks for attaching the supporting structure to the pair of seat tracks. A plurality of the seat modules can be attached to a pair of seat tracks, one adjacent another, thereby to form a plurality of seat units. Each seat unit includes the seat portion of one module and the foot-rest portion of another, adjacent module.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A seat module for a passenger vehicle, said seat module comprising a seat portion, a foot-rest portion, a unitary supporting structure for supporting said seat portion and said foot-rest portion off the floor of the vehicle, two spaced fixings for fixing the supporting structure to one of a pair of seat tracks in a floor of the vehicle at two spaced points, and a third fixing for fixing the supporting structure to the other track, thereby to provide a three-point fixing between the seat module and the seat tracks for attaching said supporting structure to said pair of seat tracks;

whereby a plurality of said seat modules can be attached to the pair of seat tracks, one adjacent another, thereby to form a plurality of seat units, each seat unit comprising the seat portion of one module and the foot-rest portion of another, adjacent module.

22. The seat module of claim 21, wherein said two spaced fixings are associated with said seat portion.

23. The seat module of claim 21, wherein said third fixing is associated with said foot-rest portion.

24. The seat module of claim 21, wherein said supporting structure comprises a plinth or a palette.

25. The seat module of claim 21, further comprising a vertically extending privacy screen positioned between said seat portion and said foot-rest portion of said seat module.

26. The seat module of claim 21, each seat unit defining a substantially triangular space.

27. The seat module of claim 26, each fixing being associated with a respective end segment of said substantially triangular space.

28. The seat module of claim 21, each seat unit defining a notional longitudinal seat axis disposed at an acute angle relative to said pair of seat tracks.

29. A method of installing an aircraft seat module comprising a seat portion, a foot-rest portion, and a supporting structure for supporting the seat portion and the foot-rest portion off the floor of the aircraft, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) fixing the supporting structure to one of a pair of seat tracks in a floor of the aircraft at two spaced points; and

(b) fixing the supporting structure to the other track of the pair of seat tracks to provide a three-point fixing between the seat module and the seat tracks for attaching the supporting structure to the pair of seat tracks.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of:

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for a plurality of seat modules, such that the plurality of seat modules are arranged one adjacent another to form a plurality of seat units, each seat unit comprising the seat portion of one seat module and the foot-rest portion of another, adjacent seat module.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of:

(d) orienting a notional longitudinal seat axis of each seat unit at an acute angle relative to the seat tracks.

32. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of:

(c) positioning a vertically extending privacy screen between said seat portion and said foot-rest portion of said seat module.

33. A seating system for an aircraft comprising:

a plurality of seat modules, each of said seat modules comprising a seat portion and a foot-rest portion, two spaced fixings fixing the seat portion to one of a seat tracks in a floor of the vehicle at two spaced points, and a third fixing the foot-rest portions to the other track, thereby providing a three-point fixing between each of said seat modules and the seat tracks for attaching said seat modules to said pair of seat tracks;

said seat modules being attached to a pair of seat tracks, one adjacent another, thereby forming a plurality of seat units, each seat unit comprising the seat portion of one module and the foot-rest portion of another, adjacent module.

34. The seat module of claim 33, wherein said seat portion and said foot-rest portion of said seat module are coupled together.

35. The seat module of claim 33, each seat unit defining a substantially triangular space.

36. The seat module of claim 35, each fixing being associated with a respective end segment of said substantially triangular space.

37. The seat module of claim 33, each seat unit defining a notional longitudinal seat axis disposed at an acute angle relative to the seat tracks.

38. A seating system for a passenger vehicle comprising:

a pair of seat tracks fixed to a floor of the vehicle;

a plurality of seat modules, each of said seat modules comprising a seat portion, a foot-rest portion, a unitary supporting structure supporting said seat portion and said foot-rest portion off the floor of the vehicle, two spaced fixings fixing the supporting structure to one of the pair of seat tracks at two spaced points, and a third fixing fixing the supporting structure to the other track, thereby providing a three-point fixing between the seat module and the seat tracks and attaching said supporting structure to said pair of seat tracks;

said seat modules being attached to the pair of seat tracks, one adjacent another, thereby forming a plurality of seat units, each seat unit comprising the seat portion of one seat module and the foot-rest portion of another, adjacent seat module, whereby each seat unit defines a notional longitudinal seat axis that is disposed at an acute angle relative to said pair of seat tracks.

39. The seating system of claim 38 further comprising a vertically extending privacy screen positioned between said seat portion and said foot-rest portion of at least one seat module.

40. A seating system for an airplane, comprising:

first and second seat tracks extending substantially parallel to each other;

a plurality of seats arranged in a column and coupled to the first and second seat tracks to define a longitudinal column axis, each seat having a seat axis extending from a front end of the seat to a back end of the seat; and

each of the plurality of seats being positioned with the seat axis at a fixed angle of between 30 and 60 degrees with respect to the longitudinal column axis for accommodating a passenger with the passenger'"'"'s feet directed towards the aisle;

wherein each seat is attached to the seat tracks using a three-point fixing system with each seat coupled to the first seat track at two spaced-apart points and coupled to the second seat track at a single point.

41. The seating system of claim 40, wherein each seat is either coupled directly to the seat tracks or coupled to the seat tracks using a plinth or palette.

42. The seating system of claim 40 each seat further including a foot-rest at the front end of the seat, a reclinable back rest at the back end of the seat and a seat pan positioned between the foot-rest and the back rest and wherein the seat pan is positioned between the two spaced-apart points where the seat is coupled to the first seat track and wherein the single point where the seat is coupled to the second track is beneath the foot-rest.

43. The seating system of claim 40, wherein each seat is part of a seat module unit comprising a seat portion, a foot-rest portion, and a unitary supporting structure for supporting said seat portion and said foot-rest portion off the floor of the vehicle, wherein the foot-rest portion of a module unit is for use by a passenger in an adjacent seat.